The new Speilberg movie probably looks like a Speilberg movie to lots of people, but it looked like something else to me considering that I forgot what a Speilberg movie is supposed to look like.
The Lincoln movie is an excellent piece of film, as it occurs to me that dramatic moments of testimony in Congress, or in a courtroom can work very nicely as dramatic cinema. That's because you don't have to do the normal tricks in having people explain to each other what they already know, just so the audience can have a little backstory. As I am writing my book, I see how difficult this can be. At any rate, Lincoln makes you want to go back to some history book and find the names of the characters in the movie and figure out something about their lives tangential to the context of the passing of the 13th Amendment.
Aside from that, the lighting of the film is done in an excellent way. I am certain that Speilberg wanted the indoors to look like the indoors would in a world before electrification. Very well done. And there is much to be appreciated for the diction of the characters. I haven't heard English like this in quite some time.
As an aside, if you find the English diction of the man who famously played the Wizard of Oz in that film and it reminds you of an earlier time in America, you would do well to purchase the audiobook of Thomas Pynchon's 'Against the Day'. Truly marvelous voice acting in that.
The film was throroughly entertaining. A high quality diversion. Film doesn't get much better. And what a lovely portrayal of Mary Todd. That was a complete surprise. Perhaps Gore Vidal was a bit harsh? Also much tenderness in Lincoln as a father. Superb touches there.
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